1 Now when Festus was come into the province , after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem .
2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul , and besought him ,
3 And desired favour against him , that he would send for him to Jerusalem , laying wait in the way to kill him .
4 But Festus answered , that Paul should be kept at Caesarea , and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
5 Let them therefore , said he, which among you are able , go down with me, and accuse this man , if there be any wickedness in him .
6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days , he went down unto Caesarea ; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought .
7 And when he was come , the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about , and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul , which they could not prove .
8 While he answered for himself , Neither against the law of the Jews , neither against the temple , nor yet against Caesar , have I offended any thing at all .
9 But Festus , willing to do the Jews a pleasure , answered Paul , and said , Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem , and there be judged of these things before me ?
10 Then said Paul , I stand at Caesar's judgment seat , where I ought to be judged : to the Jews have I done no wrong , as thou very well knowest .
11 For if I be an offender , or have committed any thing worthy of death , I refuse not to die : but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me , no man may deliver me unto them . I appeal unto Caesar .
12 Then Festus , when he had conferred with the council , answered , Hast thou appealed unto Caesar ? unto Caesar shalt thou go .
13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus .
14 And when they had been there many days , Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king , saying , There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix :
15 About whom , when I was at Jerusalem , the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him .
16 To whom I answered , It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die , before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face , and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him .
17 Therefore , when they were come hither , without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat , and commanded the man to be brought forth .
18 Against whom when the accusers stood up , they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed :
19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition , and of one Jesus , which was dead , whom Paul affirmed to be alive .
20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions , I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem , and there be judged of these matters .
21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus , I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar .
22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus , I would also hear the man myself . To morrow , said he, thou shalt hear him .
23 And on the morrow , when Agrippa was come , and Bernice , with great pomp , and was entered into the place of hearing , with the chief captains , and principal men of the city , at Festus ' commandment Paul was brought forth .
24 And Festus said , King Agrippa , and all men which are here present with us , ye see this man , about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me , both at Jerusalem , and also here , crying that he ought not to live any longer .
25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death , and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus , I have determined to send him .
26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord . Wherefore I have brought him forth before you , and specially before thee , O king Agrippa , that , after examination had , I might have somewhat to write .
27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner , and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him .
